at freshness,
if I have to."

"I don't doubt it. Women and boys are your choice for fighting material.
And, if I had some of my chums here, you'd find kicking boys too
perilous a sport."

"You won't have them here," laughed Ab. coarsely. "You're the only one
of the six that I want, so the others can stay in Gridley."

"But they won't," declared Dick. "At least, not long, after they
discover that I'm missing."

"They'll never discover you, unless you go back to town by my
permission," jeered Dexter. "Here, I'll show you something."

Bending over, he seized the boy by his coat collar, next lifting and
dragging Dick to a window at the rear.

"Look out, and tell me what you see," commanded the jailer.

"I see the woods, and a few other things," Dick replied. "And--yes, I
know where I am. This is the house at Bannerman's old mill. I was up
this way last year after nuts."

"You know, then, that you're a good way from where folks would look for
you."

"Oh, I'm not so sure of that, Dexter. Dave Darrin and the rest of the
fellows know all of this country. We've all tramped through here before.
They're very likely to think of this place within the next day or two."

"If they don't get here before dark, and if you haven't done, by that
time, what I brought you here to do, then they won't find you."

"No?" challenged Dick Prescott.

"Look again, and tell me what you see outside. Do you see that place
where Driggs has been digging? Do you see the hole he started, and the
shovel beside it? Can you guess how we could dig that hole deeper, and
put something away in it?"

There was a derisive smile on young Prescott's face as he started to
look. Then his expression changed. He did not start, cry out nor turn
pale, but that smile vanished.

"You see it, don't you?" demanded Ab. Dexter, watching the boy's face.

"You want to scare me about that hole, I suppose?"

"Yes; if you haven't gotten around completely to my way of thinking
before dark to-night Driggs may have to finish his digging."

"Does he need exercise?"

"You've guessed what I mean," declared Dexter, "although you pretend to
misunderstand me."

"Humph!"

"Look out, Prescott, that you don't put us in an ugly temper."

But Dick had found his courage by this time. He laughed merrily, though
it was forced.

"What are you laughing at?" asked the other.

"At the very idea, Dexter, of your having nerve enough to do a thing
like that! Why, there are boys